Thursday Edition 

Track how many COVID-19 vaccines have been administered across Canada (CBC) 

As the number of COVID-19 cases across the country continues to rise, vaccination programs in the provinces and territories are underway. CBC News is tracking the data, so you can follow the progress as vaccines are rolled out across the country. CBC's vaccine data comes from provincial and territorial websites, news briefings and releases, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. See how the vaccine rollout is going in your province or territory. More... 

Once you and your friends are vaccinated, can you quit social distancing? (Vox) 

Now that the vaccines are arriving, people are starting to dream. They say things like, “The second everyone in my family is vaccinated, we’re going on a big trip to Asia!” or “As soon as my five closest friends and I get the shot, I’m spending a weekend at a cabin with them. No masks, no social distancing.” While many of us are thinking about the Covid-19 pandemic in binary terms — there’s “life before I get the shot” and “life after I get the shot” — experts are cautioning us to think more gradually. More... 

Grief on the phone (CMAJ) 

The patient on the other end of the telephone line goes silent. I hold my breath to see if she can catch hers. A muffled sob tells me she is crying. In palliative care we are taught that interrupting these moments by rushing for tissues or words conveys that we are not okay with our patient’s tears of grief. I am comfortable with stillness when tears come. In the cancer centre, despite shocking fluorescent lights and awkward wheeled seats, weighed down by my white coat and the moment, I had mastered the art of “holding space.” More... 

Saskatchewan now has the highest active case rate of COVID-19 in country: Health Canada (CBC) 

Despite a drop in new cases on Tuesday, Saskatchewan's rate of active COVID-19 cases is now the highest in the country. According to data from Health Canada, Saskatchewan had an active case rate of 319 per 100,000 population on Tuesday, an increase of one from the day before. While Alberta was previously tied with Saskatchewan, its active case rate has dropped to 302. The national average rate currently sits at 215. Provincial Health Minister Paul Merriman said Wednesday that Saskatchewan will stick to its current restrictions for the time being. More... 

The path to operational excellence in healthcare (KaiNexus) 

Across the world, healthcare leaders are increasingly striving to embed the principles of operational excellence and continuous improvement in their organizations. Empowering clinical and operational staff to deliver safe, high-quality, reliable care can significantly change results. Achieving continuous improvement requires a systematic, sustainable approach to enhancing the quality of care and patients' health outcomes. Establishing a culture of constant improvement is not a quick fix but a journey that never ends. More...